Benfica and Sporting, the top two players in the Portuguese Football League, face tough tests this Sunday against Minho’s Vitoria de Guimarães and Sporting de Braga respectively in the 21st round of the championship.
The Reds go into the match first with 51 points, two more than Sporting, who have one game in hand after last round’s match with Famalican was postponed.
The Lions, who have won six straight league victories, take the field first to welcome Sporting de Braga, who currently sit in fourth place with 40 and are coming off a win in the previous round against Moreirense.
This will be the third clash between the two sides this season, with a draw in the first round (1-1) and a victory for Braga in the semi-finals of the League Cup (1-0), but Sporting won all the games played at home for the title.
Later, champions Benfica, who led the previous round, will be aiming for their eighth consecutive league win during their visit to Guimaraes against a Vitoria side who are in fifth place with 39, in the battle for fourth place. and who won eight of the 10 matches played at their stadium.
In the first round game between the two sides who reached the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup in midweek, the Reds crushed Guimaraes 4-0.
Also this Sunday, Rio Ave will host Casa Pia in a showdown between the teams looking to return to their title triumphs to escape last place in the table.
Porto, third with 45 points, will take to the field only on Monday, visiting Arroca.